1 Peter 1:10
Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:
1 PETER 1:10
Peter shifts to the prophets’ vantage point: salvation is something the prophets spoke about, searched for, and longed to understand more clearly. In the Hebrew Bible, prophets often foretold a coming grace, the Messiah, and the new covenant, but many details remained hidden or partially revealed. Their “enquiry and search” reflect a holy curiosity: they asked questions about the timing and nature of what God would accomplish. The Spirit of Christ—the pre-incarnate Spiritcontaining the Messiah—was at work in the prophets, guiding their messages. For Peter’s readers, this verse connects the New Testament experience of salvation with the long arc of God’s redemptive history. It shows that the gospel was not an afterthought but a divine plan unfolding through history. The prophets spoke not for themselves alone but for those who would later believe in Jesus. This interwoven revelation provides assurance that the gospel is trustworthy and rooted in God’s consistent purpose.
Key themes: divine foreknowledge, progressive revelation, and the unity of Scripture. God’s grace toward believers didn’t appear suddenly in the New Testament; it was anticipated by prophets who proclaimed glimpses of its coming. The Spirit’s role confirms the divine inspiration behind prophetic messages and their ultimate fulfillment in Christ. The verse also emphasizes mystery in God’s timing; prophets searched for the meaning of times and events, pointing beyond themselves to the era when salvation would be realized publicly through Jesus. Believers gain confidence that their faith rests on a coherent, divinely authored story rather than human invention.
This verse invites humility and curiosity. We aren’t hurried consumers of faith but participants in a grand, unfolding story. Practical steps: study the Scriptures across both Testaments to see how God’s promises converge in Christ; recognize that some mysteries about God’s timing remain ours to trust rather than solve. When a difficult season invites questions about God’s plan, turn to the prophets’ example—earnest seeking paired with receptive faith. Meditate on prophecies fulfilled in Jesus to strengthen hope. Let the sense of living in the “already” and “not yet” frame your expectations: salvation is present in Christ’s work now, but full realization awaits.
Cross-References: Luke 24:27; 1 Corinthians 2:7–10; Acts 3:18; Hebrews 1:1–2; 2 Peter 1:21